UK (798447), страница 3
Текст из файла (страница 3)
Guy Fawkes Day - November the 5th. “Remember, remember the 5th of November Gunpowder, treason and plot. I see no reason in that gunpowder treason”. This popular British rhyme is often spoken on Bonfire Night, in memory of the Gunpowder Plot. Guy Fawkes’ Day is also known as 'Bonfire Night' or 'Fireworks Night'. In 1605 on the 5th of November catholic Guy Fawkes and his fellow conspirators (60 in all) attempted to kill King James I and the Members of Parliament. This conspiracy arose as a reaction to the persecution of Catholics under the rule of King James, a Protestant. They hid 36 barrels of gunpowder in the cellars of the Houses of Parliament and were going to blow up the Houses of Parliament. But one of the plotters betrayed the conspiracy in a letter to his brother-in-law who told the government about the plotter’s plans. Fawkes was caught with a box of matches in his pocket. Some conspirators fled but many were killed or arrested. Nine members, including Fawkes, were hung and quartered in January 1606.
Parliament made the 5th November a day of public thanksgiving and ever since then the day has been celebrated with fireworks and bonfires. Today children still make stuffed figures with masks of Guy Fawkes. They call these figures guys and display them in the streets.
November 5 is also called the Ringing Day because it is appointed for church bells to be rung for the whole day.
One of the largest events in the UK is the Bridgewater Carnival. The procession is held each year on the Thursday nearest to November 5. It is an illuminated procession that takes about two hours to pass with over 130 entries made by various local carnival clubs
Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.
In England less emphasis is placed on Christmas Eve than in other countries, much more is made on Christmas Day. Carol singing, midnight church services and going out to the pub are some of the activities that many families enjoy (sometimes all three activities can be combined into one fun night out!).
In 1647, the English parliament passed a law that made Christmas illegal, all festivities were banned by the Puritan leader Oliver Cromwell, who considered feasting on what was supposed to be a holy day to be immoral. The ban was lifted only when Cromwell lost power in 1660.
During Queen Victoria's reign, Christmas became a time for gift giving, and a special season for children.
St Patrick's Day - March 17th.. St Patrick (c.389-c.461) is the patron saint of Ireland. He was an ancient Briton during the time when Britain was a colony of the Roman Empire. When he was 16 he was captured by pirates and taken to Ireland. According to the legend St. Patrick's work in Ireland transformed the country. He drove all the snakes out of Ireland and they all went into the sea and drowned. The snake was a pagan symbol, and perhaps this is a metaphor for the fact that he drove paganism out of Ireland.
n Ireland, March 17th is a public holiday in celebration of his life and death. The feast day of St. Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland, is celebrated all over the world wherever Irish exiles gather.
St David's Day - March 1st St. David (520-588), or Dewi as he is called in Welsh, is the patron saint of Wales. He founded twelve monasteries across the country and went on pilgrimage to Jerusalem where he became a bishop.
Bank Holidays - public holidays when banks, post offices, shops and some attractions are closed. Bank holidays always occur on Monday (the late Spring Bank Holiday is the last Monday in May).
Midsummer Day - 24th June - ceremonies in honour of the Sun have been held from the earliest times. This day is preceded by Midsummer Night when supernatural beings are said to wander about.
Edinburgh Festival
It began in 1947, with the aim of providing 'a platform for the flowering of the human spirit'. Right from the start people were inspired to put on shows of their own, and these soon grew into the Edinburgh Festival Fringe. Since then half a dozen or so festivals have grown up around it in August and early September, and collectively these are often know as 'the Edinburgh Festival'.
The Highland games are events held throughout the year in Scotland as a way of celebrating Scottish and Celtic culture and heritage, especially that of the Scottish Highlands.
During the time of English occupation, the men of Scotland were forbidden to train in an attempt to prevent another Scottish uprising. Scots continued to train for war during so-called the Highland games. Certain aspects of the games are so well known as to have become emblematic of Scotland, such as the bagpipes, the kilt, and the heavy events. While cantered on competitions in piping and drumming, dancing, and Scottish heavy athletics, the games also include entertainment and exhibits related to other aspects of Scottish and Gaelic culture.
Answer the following questions
1. When was the British’s power weakened for the first time?
2. When and how was English Parliament formed?
3. Why is King Henry the 8th important historically?
4. What do you know about Queen Elizabeth the First?
5. What is the period of Industrial Revolution in England?
6. When did the saying “The Sun never sets on the British Empire become popular”?
7. How did Britain act during two World Wars?
8. When did the British Empire collapse?
9. Describe British foreign policy now.
10. What is the UK economically now?
11. What is class division in England and how is this reflected in speech?
12. What is a typical British house?
13. Is the expression “My house is my castle” still important for Englishmen?
14. What do you know about British eating habits?
15. Why do so many English people prefer to live in the province?
16. What are “commuters”?
17. Why are pubs so important for Englishmen?
LECTURE № 3
THE POLITICAL STRUCTURE AND ELECTIONS
Great Britain is a constitutional monarchy. Britain is administered from the Palace of Westminster in London. This is also known as the Houses of Parliament which is made up of two chambers (палаты) — the House of Commons and the House of Lords.
The House of Commons has 651 seats which are occupied by Members of Parliament (MPs) who are elected by the British public in general elections which are held every five years. The country is divided into 650 constituencies (избирательные округа) each of which elects one Member of Parliament (MP). The party which wins the elections gets the most seats in the House of Commons and forms the Government. Its leader becomes the Prime Minister.
Britain does not have a written constitution, but a set of laws. Most legislation (законодательство) originates in the Commons. Besides legislation the functions of Commons are security of government activities. The House of Commons is presided over by the Speaker. The government party sits on the Speaker's right while on his left sit the members of the Opposition.
The House of Lords comprises about 1 200 members. The members of the House of Lords are not elected: they sit in the House because they are aristocrats who have inherited their seats from their fathers, people with titles and bishops (эпископы) of the Church of England.
This House has no real power but acts as an advisory council for the House of Commons. The House of Lords may take a part in legislation, but it cannot permanently block a bill (законопроект) passed by the Commons.
The House of Lords is presided over by the Lord Chancellor (Лорд канцлер или председатель суда) and is the highest court of appeal.
Technically British Parliament is made up of three parts: the House of Commons, the House of Lords and the Monarch (at the moment the Queen Elizabeth 11 who has been n power since 1953).
The Queen, who is the Head of State, opens and closes the sessions of the Parliament. All new laws are debated (discussed) by MPs in the Commons, then debated in the Lords, and finally signed by the Queen.
The English monarchy has been interrupted only once during the Revolution and the Cromwell republic. Succession (наследование) to the throne is hereditary (наследственное). Formally the monarch has a number of roles. The monarch is expected to be politically neutral, and should not make political decisions. Nevertheless (тем не менее), Queen Elizabeth the Second still performs some important executive and legislative duties (исполнительные и законодательные обязанности) including opening and dissolving Parliament, signing bills (законопроекты) passed by both Houses and fulfilling international duties, visits to foreign countries, and especially those to the Commonwealth (Содружество наций), whose interests and welfare (благосостояние) are very important to her. She started the tradition of the "walkabouts", when she walks among the public crowds and stops to talk to some people. The annual Christmas broadcast made by the Queen on radio and television has become a traditional. The Queen's husband is Duke of Edinburgh and her heir (наследник) is Charles, Prince of Wales, who was born in 1948, married Lady Diana Spencer who died in a car accident in August, 1997, and has two children, Prince William and Prince Harry. August, 1997. The Queen's other children are Princess Anne, Prince Andrew and Prince Edward .
Government
Two main parties in the UK are the Conservative party, descended from the old Tory party, and the Labour party, which was organized in 1906 and is moderately socialist. The Liberal Democrats, which is a weaker third party, was formed by the merger (слияние) of the Liberal party and the Social Democratic party.
Both Scotland and Wales have nationalist parties whose goal is the independence.
The party which wins the most seats in the General Election forms the government in Britain. The leader of the winning party becomes Prime Minister(PM). The PM chooses a committee of ministers called the Cabinet (about 15-25 members or ministers). This is made up of a selection of senior MPs (members of parliament) from the House of Commons and some members of the House of Lords.
Each member of the Cabinet is a minister responsible for a government department such as Home Affairs, Foreign Affairs, and the Exchequer (treasury). The Secretary of State for Education and Science is responsible for all the schools, universities and teachers in Britain. The Cabinet of ministers runs the country (управляет страной). The Cabinet meets at the Prime Minister's house 10 Downing Street. Cabinet meetings are held in private and the details must remain secret for at least 30 years. Cabinet ministers cannot, however, do as they please! They are responsible to Parliament and must answer their questions. Even the Prime Minister must answer questions every Tuesday and Thursday in the Commons — this is called Prime Minister's Question Time. At the moment the UK is governed by the Conservative Party headed by Mr. David Cameron.
Answer the questions:
1. Which political parties in the UK do you know?
2. How do elections take place?
3. How many Chambers (Houses) are there in the British Parliament? What is the difference between them?
4. Who is the head of the Government?
5. What is a cabinet?
6. Call any great political figures in the UK who you remember.
Translate from Russian into English:
Британский парламент состоит из двух палат
Проводить выборы
Выигрывать выборы
Образовывать правительство
Свод законов
Наследовать, наследники
Не иметь реально власти
Совещательный Совет
Принимать участие
Заблокировать законопроект
Высший Аппеляционный суд
Принимать политические решения
Исполнительные и законодательные обязанности
Открытие и роспуск парламента
Выполнение обязанностей
Благосостояние
Быть ответственным
Управлять страной
LECTURE № 4
Education in Britain
As Great Britain does not have a written constitution, there are no constitutional provisions for education. The system of education is determined by the National Education Act.
Education in Britain is provided by the Local Education Authority (LEA) in each county. It is financed partly by the Government and partly by local taxes. Until recently planning and organization were not controlled by central government. Each Local Educational Authority was free to decide how to organize education in its own area. There were wide variations between one part of the country and another. In September 1988, however, "The National Curriculum" was introduced, which means that there is now greater government control over what is taught in schools.
Education in Britain mirrors the country's social system: it is class-divided and selective. The first division is between those who pay and those who do not pay. The majority of schools in Britain are supported by public funds and the education in them is free. There is also a considerable number of public (private) schools. Parents must pay fees to send their children to these schools. The fees are high
School Education
The National Education Act of 1944 provided three stages of education: primary, secondary and further education. Compulsory schooling in England and Wales lasts 11 years, from the age of 5 to 16.
Primary education takes place in infant schools (pupils aged from 5 to 7 years) and junior schools (from 8 to 11 years).At infant schools reading, writing and arithmetic are taught for about 20 minutes a day during the first year, gradually increasing to about 2 hours in their last year. There is usually no written timetable. Much time is spent in modeling from clay or drawing, reading and signing.
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